Jamaica has a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy, operating under a Westminster-style system. Key points:
- Head of state: The monarch of Jamaica (currently represented locally by a Governor-General) serves a largely ceremonial role. The Governor-General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet for most executive and ceremonial duties.
- Head of government: The Prime Minister is the head of government and holds executive power in practice, along with a cabinet appointed by the Governor-General on the basis of parliamentary support.
- Legislature: Jamaica has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (appointed members) and the House of Representatives (elected members). Members are elected to five-year terms, and the majority party or coalition forms the government.
- Judiciary: An independent judiciary with the Chief Justice and other judges appointed under the constitutional framework. The judiciary interprets and applies laws passed by Parliament.
Context and sources:
- The government mirrors the British Westminster-Whitehall model, with universal adult suffrage and regular elections, and a constitutional framework that defines the roles of the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
- Jamaica is described widely as a constitutional monarchy within a constitutional parliamentary democracy and Commonwealth Realm, with the Queen represented by a Governor-General in Jamaica.
If you’d like, I can summarize the roles of each branch in more detail or compare Jamaica’s system with another country.
